Franz Schubert
Impromptu
in A-flat Major, Op. 90 No. 4
In the beloved A-flat Impromptu, subdued, nimble-fingered figurations cascade downwards becoming ever more joyful and jubilant.
Year: 1827
Period: Early Romantic
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
Joyous Cascades
The beloved A-flat Impromptu, the fourth and final of the Op. 90 set, alternates between haunted and joyous moods. It begins with subdued, nimble-fingered figurations cascading downwards, being responded to by murmuring chordal passages. Straying in an unusual manner from the piece's home key, it starts in A flat minor, traversing through C flat major to B minor before deftly modulating to its true tonal center of A flat major, where the cascades turn ever more joyful, even jubilant. A dark middle section in C sharp minor follows, where a wistful melody sings over chordal accompaniment. Eventually, this section transitions back into the subdued opening section, followed by a final return of the joyous A flat major section, concluding the piece firmly in its home key.Background
The four Impromptus, Op. 90 (D. 899) were probably composed at least in part during the composer's stay in Dornbach in the summer of 1827, just over a year before his death. The first two went to press in late 1827; it wasn't until 1857 that Nos. 3 and 4 appeared in print.Forum posts about this piece:
I'm very stuck. Can anyone identify this Romantic piece? by calf
So I heard years ago a well-known piece that I don't know the name of. I could recognize it given the music, but I don't remember anything except for the main motif. It is a delicate right-hand...
Can you play piano at a high level starting as an adult? by ranjit
I am referring to playing pieces at the level of Liszt Transcendental Etudes, and Ravel’s Jeux D’Eau, at a level which would be considered acceptable at a conservatoire. Do you know of people who have...
Grand Valse Brilliante by nealburg
Hi i am 14 and i am an intermediate piano student. I play quite well the impromptu op90 no4 of schubert and the rondo k485 of mozart. I wonder if i can play the grand valse brilliante of chopin.???
Your thoughts on Alexei Sultanov by piulento
Definitely one of the more controversial piano players to ever (almost) win the Chopin competition. Just wanted to hear your opinion on his playing. Good? Not good? Why? Favorite recordings? etc. I...
schubert impromptu 4 by skt1991
hey its my first post on this site. yay. im gonna schubert impromptu op.90 no.4 for a recital i hav coming up and was wonderin couple things and hoped to ask thoe who hav alrdy learned it. 1st how...
Grade this Schubert impromptu by acha114
Could someone grade Schubert Impromptu op 90 no 4 in A flat major (ABRSM or Trinity grade)? I would like to play it someday and want to know how difficult it really...
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Impromptu in A-flat Major, Op. 90 No. 4 by the composer Franz Schubert who lived from 1797 to 1828.
The piece was published in 1827 and is included in Schubert's Impromptus.